Aliwal Shoal - KwaZulu-Natal

Aliwal Shoal is one of those places that genuinely feels alive, even before you hit the water. The surf launch itself is part of the fun, a proper rush in an 8.5m rubber duck – definitely not for the faint of heart, but it sets the tone for a real adventure. Once you’re down, it’s a fossilised sand dune turned reef, which gives it this unique, almost mountainous structure, full of swim-throughs and gullies. We love just drifting along the reef's contours, poking into crevices. Visibility averages around 13m, so it’s not always gin-clear, but that often adds to the drama. What you will see are sharks; ragged-tooth sharks in their season (June to November) are a big draw, often just chilling in the gutters. But even outside of that, we often spot great hammerheads cruising by, along with blackfin barracuda schooling. The smaller stuff is there too: frogfish hiding in plain sight, brightly coloured rainbow wrasse, and plenty of butterflyfish flitting about. It’s a site that really suits divers looking for those larger pelagic encounters combined with interesting topography, and who don’t mind a bit of an adrenaline kick getting out there.

Location
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-30.249100, 30.827600
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area

Best Time to Dive in KwaZulu-Natal

The warmest water temperatures in KwaZulu-Natal occur in January, averaging 27.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.0°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.0°C (air: 24.4°C)
  • February: 27.0°C (air: 24.6°C)
  • March: 27.0°C (air: 24.0°C)
  • April: 27.0°C (air: 21.7°C)
  • May: 27.0°C (air: 20.1°C)
  • June: 27.0°C (air: 18.2°C)
  • July: 27.0°C (air: 17.5°C)
  • August: 27.0°C (air: 18.2°C)
  • September: 27.0°C (air: 19.3°C)
  • October: 27.0°C (air: 20.3°C)
  • November: 27.0°C (air: 21.8°C)
  • December: 27.0°C (air: 23.2°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in KwaZulu-Natal

Nearest Dive Centres to Aliwal Shoal

Marine Life in KwaZulu-Natal

Home to 495 recorded species including 400 reef fish, 41 sharks & rays, 19 hard corals, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 whales & dolphins, 7 crabs & lobsters.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Aliwal Shoal

Based on average water temperature of 27.0°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories